German veteran Jan-Lennard Struff achieved a remarkable milestone by reaching his first Grand Slam quarterfinal at Wimbledon on Sunday. The 36-year-old made headlines as the oldest man in the Open Era to debut at this stage of a major tournament after his opponent, Hubert Hurkacz, retired in the deciding set.
Struff’s Impressive Comeback
On No. 2 Court, Struff staged a thrilling comeback, rallying from two sets down before Hurkacz was forced to retire at 4-2 in the fifth set. The match lasted an exhausting three hours and 36 minutes, with the score standing at 3-6, 6-7(5), 7-6(2), 7-5, 4-2, ret. Hurkacz, who had taken multiple medical timeouts, opened the final set with a service break but ultimately could not continue due to an undisclosed injury.
The Polish player previously faced a setback at Wimbledon two years ago when he had to retire in the second round after injuring his meniscus during a dive, which required surgery. Following this latest match, Hurkacz mentioned that the issue was likely muscular and indicated he would seek a diagnosis. He expressed disappointment, stating he felt he was playing well until the injury disrupted his performance.
Struff’s impressive run at Wimbledon has included several notable victories, including five-set triumphs over Sebastian Baez and Brandon Nakashima, as well as a straight-sets victory against eighth seed Daniil Medvedev in the third round. This journey has not only showcased his resilience but also his determination to compete at the highest level. In the next round, Struff is set to face either defending champion Jannik Sinner or qualifier Shintaro Mochizuki.
As Struff continues his remarkable journey at Wimbledon, fans and tennis enthusiasts alike are eager to see how he performs in the quarterfinals. His story serves as an inspiration, proving that age is merely a number in the world of competitive sports.